Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Chelsea 25/26 Season Preview: Are We Ready?
1 Playsin 2 days
Welcome to the Daily Chelsea podcast, or should I say welcome back, for a new season, the 2025-26 season
Fresh from our Club World Cup win, the season’s already got underway with two pre-season wins against Leverkusen and AC Milan
You’re listening to Martin, Yashar and Saps and over the next few podcasts we will wrap up the summer for Chelsea including the big win against PSG in the Club World Cup Final, reflect on the transfer window incomings and outgoings thus far, and give our predictions for the upcoming season – are we ready?
Our Sponsors
Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.
We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.
Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
ken.davies@globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2025 Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
Recommended
Transcript
Season Preview and Chelsea's Form
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone, welcome to the Daily Chelsea podcast as we preview the 25-26 season. Fresh from our Club World Cup win, the season's already got underway with two pre-season wins against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're listening to Martin and Yashar. Over last couple of episodes, we've... dived deeper into the Club World Cup win. We've spoken about the transfer window, incomings and outgoings.
Predictions and Concerns for New Season
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
In this podcast, we're going to give our predictions for the upcoming season, look ahead a little bit more. Are we ready? What are we most excited about? And what are we still concerned about?
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yes, sir very open question then. Are we ready? We've got a week to go until our first game um as we record this on on on a Sunday um against Crystal Palace.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are we ready?
00:01:04
yashar
We are. ah really feel that. I think this is the first time that I felt in a while that we are ready.
Adaptive Tactics and Team Fluidity
00:01:11
yashar
I think we're ready for the season. I really feel we're title contenders this season. I know it's it's people probably thinking typical Chelsea fan, but I really feel that that Club World Cup is a turn of a page to a new chapter. i really feel this is it. We can really kick on.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:28
yashar
The players know Maresca's ideas and the only question mark... for me was going into the PSG game was, are our tactics predictable?
00:01:40
yashar
And, you know, throughout the season they were, obviously big teams were but picking us apart, like, again, like the arsenals and the cities.
00:01:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:48
yashar
And however you look back on it and you look back and you think, you know what, that PSG game was something different. You know, we really adapted to their weaknesses rather than playing our way.
00:02:01
yashar
And that's what we did. And that's given me more confidence because now we know how to play multiple ways. Fluidity. And that was, you know, one of the biggest things on the Conte's teams as well.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:12
yashar
fluter Fluidity. Back four, three, back five, you know, and that's something that we were doing, which I'm very
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Defensive Worries and Player Reliance
00:02:20
yashar
confident in.
00:02:20
yashar
So yes, to answer your question, yes, we do. I do feel we're ready. Maybe there's a few spots that we can cover, but yeah, every team.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah And, you know, and you make a good point, actually. um Let's be honest, we were cold Palmer FC for huge parts of last year and and the year before, frankly, as well.
00:02:39
yashar
Yep. yeahp
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that's not to say he still obviously has a huge importance, but at least if we go off the two preseason matches we've just watched, 2-0 win against Baylor Leverkusen and the 4-1 win against Milan,
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um the goals were well spread out. You know, Esteval, Joao Pedro, De Lapp scored two. um So that's not to say Colpama has diminished in importance, but your point about plan B and a plan if needs be, is a fair one because it looks like Esteval can create some magic if he needs to. Joao Pedro himself as well. So yeah, no, I agree with you. I am as excited.
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What are we still concerned about, if anything? Now, you know we have the plan A, plan B, Is there anything that you're, you know, I'm always, ah and you know it as well, I'm always concerned that we start well and then we have sort of ah an October, November, December dip.
00:03:37
yashar
Hmm.
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I'm sure that's happened over the last couple couple of seasons. So, so and I, you know, that's, that could be always, always due to a multitude of factors, but is there anything you're still concerned about at the minute?
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sounds like you're not concerned about us being sort of red in terms of tactics, but anything else?
00:03:59
yashar
Tactically, no. Technically, no. I'm not concerned. The only thing with me is our defence quality. um Our defence, I think obviously losing Levi is one ah huge dent.
00:04:09
yashar
But not only that, I think watching the Leverkusen game, watching the Milan game, you know we were dominant, but we got caught on the counter a bit few bit too much.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:04:18
yashar
And that is and a lot of Premier League teams, especially the ones that came up.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know
00:04:21
yashar
And we saw that against Ipswich last season. We struggled. We didn't and beat them once.
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:25
yashar
Yeah, we took, we again, we took one point off them ah of so out of six.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:29
yashar
So those are the matches that you look back on and you think,
Leadership Needs in Defense
00:04:34
yashar
you know what I mean? You look back and you're thinking, what if something were different? So we get caught too easily.
00:04:41
yashar
um And one other big thing is is relying on Kukurela too much because, you know, I think we've we've shifted from relying on Cole Palmer, which, um again, you raise a good point, which I'm glad because now he has less pressure on him, I feel.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
know Yeah.
00:04:56
yashar
And especially last season, he didn't, you know, he was still amazing, but he didn't pull up to his numbers he did the season before. So I think that's because of pressure. You know, it's, you know, he he had so much pressure. He needed to deliver. He needed to do this. He needed to do that.
00:05:11
yashar
But now, obviously, coming into, got players around him. But now we've shifted our reliance on Cucurella now. um We have no cover for left back. Obviously, Renato Vega's not, of vague as not um he wants a new chapter.
00:05:22
yashar
Hato is going to play centre-back more often.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:26
yashar
And, you know, obviously Chilwell's not part of the fray, but my biggest worry, I think most Premier League clubs as well, I know Liverpool have the same issue and Arsenal have the same issue, their back line. And that's something that we really need to shore up a little bit more.
00:05:40
yashar
We need like a leader in there, I feel.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:44
yashar
Experienced head who can maybe one or two years, remind me like a Koulibaly signing who come in for a couple of years maybe and ah I had a few i a few things in my head who can sign, but again, it's it's something that we need to look at really deeply,
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Kukurela's Role and Importance
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And Kukurea is a fascinating guy. As you say, he's left back um you know on paper, but he's basically deputy attacking midfielder when we have the ball as well. He is so advanced.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And yeah, we he's almost one of the first names on the team sheet now, just because he he really does bond forward. He'll get fair few assists this season. Yeah.
First Match Against Crystal Palace
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Before we talk about our opponents, Crystal Palace, um for our first game of the season, a quick word from one of our sponsors.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the Daily Chelsea podcast. You're with Yashar and Martin um as we preview the 25-26 season. We've just spoken about Chelsea. We're both, think Yashar, you're in agreement. We're both excited that we're ready.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, that's only one half of the debate. The other debate is who we will face on that first game of the season, and that is Crystal Palace. um Now, I won't claim to have watched all of their pre-season matches, but obviously their most important pre-season match is their community shield win against Liverpool on penalties. And if I look back at some of their other sort of July, early August fixtures, a mixed bag of um a couple of wins, a couple of losses.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And also, of course, they have continual um ah Conference League, Europa League discussions at the minute.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um so we're ready we're playing crystal palace now last year both of the matches were draws so the home one was a one-one and the away one was a one-one so what is in the context of playing crystal palace what are your thoughts for for the the weekend's game
00:08:33
yashar
Yeah, I think obviously Palace coming from a community shield win. know it's obviously people don't count as a trophy. That's i'm not saying trophy, community shield win. But I think that, you know, the thing that scares me the most is they really you know, they played better than Liverpool at times.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:51
yashar
And Liverpool's the team that everyone's talking about winning the league.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
huh
00:08:54
yashar
So it'll be a tough first game. However, we're at home. ah ah You know, we I feel we've had one of the best preseasons, well, in the league, you know.
00:09:07
yashar
but if you're counting the club World Cup, if you're counting the two games, conceded one, i think we're ready. ah I'm confident, very confident. I think we'll win. ah Will we concede?
00:09:19
yashar
Most probably. That's something, again, I ah mentioned earlier in the podcast that I really
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
Handling Crystal Palace Threats
00:09:23
yashar
feel that we will, our defence is one thing that ah that is going to let us down.
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's going to be many more or four threes than one nils this season.
00:09:28
yashar
However, it will be a lot it'll be lot of two three twos, two ones, maybe a one ones, two twos, it'll be that.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:36
yashar
but However, the main thing is we can't, we can't be complacent and that's the thing, and that's one thing we need to do. But, The confidence I think we have in attack, I'm very comfortable with. However, coming back, especially with the way that Palace attack, it's it's something that we have to be wary of. And I'm sure Moresca's more advanced how thinking like me. so But again, we we have to think, you know, we again, we're at home.
00:09:59
yashar
First game at home. We can't beat it. You can't beat the first game at home. And that's something that we need to really push on.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, let's see how it pans out as well. Both of the games last year, Chelsea went ahead and then Crystal Palace pulled the goal back. um The game at Stamford Bridge, Nicholas Jackson put us ahead.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eze then equalised in the second half. And exactly the same story for the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park. Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the first half and then Mateta equalised in the second half. So even if we go ahead at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, let's see, as you say, where the weekend whether we can hold on to it.
Conclusion and Thanks
00:10:38
yashar
Mm-hmm.
00:10:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yashar, thank you very much. Thank you, everyone, for listening. You've been listening to the Daily Chelsea podcast on the on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Thanks for being with us and goodbye.